T120 new printhead - colors missing - ink changed at least three times...

[Ollie-12_]

I have used the forum here to finally diagnose that I needed a new printhead.  I purchased one (OEM).  I installed it with the new cartridges.  After going through a series of error messages (cyan and black cartidges leaking, not enough cyan ink to complete installation and others) I replaced cartidges (had 3 new sets) and finally had to buy another cyan.  I have also turned off and restarted and disconnected printer from electric source several times.  Finally, it seems to be aligned.   The first 5 pages that printed during the alignment process were blank.  I then went into cleaning the printhead.

I have cleaned the printhead (all three levels) at least 3 times.  The first run the magenta and cyan printed great. The headings were sketchy as it looked like the black ink apparently having issues.  One the second run of three levels the black printed well, but at the bottom where the colors each print in different shades, the magenta printed well, the cyan showed for the first quarter inch on the top two and then difference.  The black barely showed and the yellow was still not present.  I replaced the yellow and ran the three cleaning levels again.  Now the magenta shows, the black headings are sketchy and the yellow still doesn't show.  What I can see of the alignment portion still looks ok with the red, cyan and black showing lightly. 

New printhead three new sets of ink (4 of cyan) and still not there.  I am about ready to shoot it, but I can't afford to replace it.  It was working really well until it suddenly went gunnies.  I use it to print newsletter for our new museum and for church related projects.

This is added later:  I just tried to print a page of my newletter - the only color that shows is magenta.  Nothing else.

HELP  You guys were so awesome with helping me.

Thank you

[SHThompson · Accepted solution]

Did the new printhead change the symptoms from what you were getting with the old printhead?

If the new printhead does give different symptoms then it's possible that you got a defective new part.

Did you buy the printhead from HP or some other source?

[Ollie-12_]

I did get rid of the problems I was having with the old printhead.  Apparently I traded them for a new set.  I bought the printhead from Staples online.  It is OEM with the HP box and packing.  I now have 4 complete sets of HP ink so I don't want to quit now even though I'm tempted.  I think that this printhead may be defective?  Does that happen much?

The closest large city to us is Boise, Idaho, which is a good three hours away.  Another cluster of small cities are about the same distance in the opposite direction on the Oregon/Washington border, the TriCities.  All the towns around here (within an hour to an hour and a half travel) are 15,000 or less, mostly way less.  The town I'm in is about 1,300.  This thing is too large to lug around.  It took three of us to get it in here safely.  I don't even want to think about taking it off its stand and moving it.

I really appreciate your help.  If you think it's probably the printhead, I'll contact Staples and get it sent back.

Thank you so much for responding.